A recent shooting in northeastern Itawamba County that hospitalized one man may have been in self-defense.

According to Itawamba County Sheriff Chris Dickinson, the July 6 shooting on Graham Road was the result of a property dispute between two cousins.

The victim, who was shot in the neck once with a .22 caliber pistol, was transported to the North Mississippi Medical Center where he was treated for his injury. He has since been released from hospital care.

The shooter, who was taken into custody for questioning but never charged, was reportedly defending himself from attack at the time of the incident.

“We questioned the suspect but it looks like he may have been acting out of self-defense,” Dickinson said, adding that the victim reportedly attacked him twice before being shot.

A second person initially held on the scene of the incident was later released, but served as a witness. The sheriff said all three individuals’ stories synced.

“They’re all telling the same tale,” the sheriff said. “If that’s true, the victim isn’t really a ‘victim’ in the true sense of the word … [and] the guy who got shot was in the wrong anyway.”

Dickinson said as of now the victim was not pressing charges, but that could change. Regardless, the sheriff said the case is still under investigation and will be presented during the next meeting of the Itawamba County Grand Jury for an official decision on whether or not to charge the shooter.

Adam Armour can be reached at 862-3141, by e-mailing adam.armour@journalinc.com or by visiting his blog at itawamba360.com.